Learning on Country

So, what is Learning on Country?

Learning on Country in Bulman-Weemol communities is an important and culturally focused teaching program facilitated by local Indigenous Elders and Mimal rangers.

We are a proudly independent program, supported by the Mimal Board and Karrkad Kanjdji Trust, and developed in collaboration with Bulman School.

We deliver strong two-way learning opportunities for daku / wurrud (kids) of Bulman-Weemol and bring Rembarrnga and Dalabon culture and language into the curriculum.

What do we do in Learning on Country?

We offer Learning on Country activities to all students at Bulman School from pre-school to high school. The activities are based on the seasonal calendar and include:

  • Traditional knowledge about water, fire, earth and sky

  • Indigenous languages (Dalabon and Rembarrnga)

  • Kinship and identity

  • Seasonal cycles, bush tuckers and bush medicines

  • Traditional hunting, preparation and cooking

  • Traditional arts, crafts, song and dance

  • Traditional tools and implements

  • Rock art

  • Caring for Country and land management

  • Being on Country and learning stories of place

We also practice two-way learning, job skills and land management for older students with the Mimal rangers

LOC is Valuable

The Bulman-Weemol LOC program is based on 12 core values -

  • Two-way knowledge to support student pathways for a bright future

  • Teaching cultural activities

  • Everyone working together

  • Empowering rangers and students to take leadership

  • Being on Country

  • Safety is key for everyone

  • Sharing knowledge

  • Strong voice

  • Proud of our work

  • Kinship and identity

  • Respect

  • Community-led

Our values underpin our MOU.

What are we doing?

Music Project

The strength of the music program continues to grow with kids singing in Dalabon and Rembarrnga. See below to listen!

Strong Bala Wei: this song is about caring for country good way and won an NT Music School Award for pathways in 2024!

Crocodile Style: this song tells a Dalabon story about Korlomomo (freshwater crocodile) and Berredberred (rainbow bee-eater).

Seasonal Calendar

The LOC team continues to work with Mimal rangers and Bush Heritage to build the online seasonal calendar.

LOC Activities

Teaching kids about bush medicine, bush tucker, bush string, paperbark, spears, traditional tools and crafts - and more!

All Us Mob: written by Vivienne Lawrence and sung in Dalabon.

Work Experience

We’re thinking about youth pathways and developing a “junior ranger program” as part of LOC for the senior class. They do fire, fencing, mechanics and more!

Bird Workshop

We’re exploring the stories and language of birds: then developing resources and running camps to share this with the kids.

Malnganarra: this song tells a story about the Bolung (rainbow serpent) and that Malnganarra (flying fox).

Collecting and Creating Educational Resources

Educational videos, worksheets, language cards – we’ve put a lot of time into developing teaching resources to support LOC and the school.

Camps

This year we have planned camps across the Mimal IPA as well as exchanges planned with other LOC programs.

Nidjarra means “here” in Dalabon and was created by Dennis and Elizabeth Lawrence and Nathanial Miller. This song won a NIMA award in 2024!

VET

We are looking to integrate LOC with the curriculum and generate outcomes for students towards their High School Certificate

Find Out More

If you would like to see more of what we do on Mimal LOC, head to our Instagram @mimaland or Facebook @MimalLand

If you have questions or would like to collaborate, please reach out.

Our email is: loc@mimal.org.au